Tackling Implicit Bias Around Identity and Intersectionality in the California Courtroom Setting

Why You Should Attend

Despite progress, bias continues to impact people in all areas of the legal profession, including judges, juries, clients, and attorneys. Implicit Bias refers to attitudes and stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner. These biases, which can include both positive and negative stereotypes, are often activated involuntarily and without an individual’s awareness or intent. Our everyday decision-making is unavoidably affected by implicit biases, stereotypes, and other types of cognitive biases. Identifying and addressing implicit bias becomes even more challenging when dealing with intersectionality. However, as attorneys, it is imperative that we understand these biases and take steps to ensure they do not have unfair or harmful consequences. The training will tackle intersectionality around implicit bias, and how attorneys can address implicit bias issues within themselves and the courtroom setting.

What You Will Learn

After completing this program, participants will be able to:

• Recognize implicit bias in themselves, their workplace, and the courtroom
• Understand why it is important to keep intersectionality in mind when addressing implicit bias issues
• Learn and incorporate specific techniques that can interrupt implicit bias in courtroom settings

Who Should Attend

California licensed attorneys that require 1 hour of implicit bias credit, or any attorney interested in learning about how implicit bias and intersectionality plays a role in the legal profession.

Special Feature: The training will meet the additional 1-hour requirement that the CA State Bar now requires from CA licensed attorneys on implicit bias issues starting in January 2023.

Program Level: Overview

Prerequisites: None

Advanced Preparation: None

PLI’s Studio Briefings are on-demand video CLE programs that feature an intimate and engaging round table discussion format with legal and industry experts addressing a range of topics.  Visit our landing page for our library of PLI Studio Briefings.

Tackling Implicit Bias Around Identity and Intersectionality in the California Courtroom Setting 

Despite progress, bias continues to impact people in all areas of the legal profession, including judges, juries, clients, and attorneys. Implicit Bias refers to attitudes and stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner. These biases, which can include both positive and negative stereotypes, are often activated involuntarily and without an individual’s awareness or intent. Our everyday decision-making is unavoidably affected by implicit biases, stereotypes, and other types of cognitive biases. Identifying and addressing implicit bias becomes even more challenging when dealing with intersectionality. However, as attorneys, it is imperative that we understand these biases and take steps to ensure they do not have unfair or harmful consequences. The training will tackle intersectionality around implicit bias, and how attorneys can address implicit bias issues within themselves and the courtroom setting.

What You Will Learn

After completing this program, participants will be able to:

• Recognize implicit bias in themselves, their workplace, and the courtroom
• Understand why it is important to keep intersectionality in mind when addressing implicit bias issues
• Learn and incorporate specific techniques that can interrupt implicit bias in courtroom settings 

California licensed attorneys that require 1 hour of implicit bias credit, or any attorney interested in learning about how implicit bias and intersectionality plays a role in the legal profession.

Special Feature: The training will meet the additional 1-hour requirement that the CA State Bar now requires from CA licensed attorneys on implicit bias issues starting in January 2023.

Program Level: Overview

Prerequisites: None

Advanced Preparation: None

PLI’s Studio Briefings are on-demand video CLE programs that feature an intimate and engaging round table discussion format with legal and industry experts addressing a range of topics.  Visit our landing page for our library of PLI Studio Briefings.

Lecture Topics [Total time 00:01:00]

Segments with an asterisk (*) are available only with the purchase of the entire program.

• Tackling Implicit Bias Around Identity and Intersectionality in the California Courtroom Setting [01:04:29]
  Prof. Christine Chambers Goodman, Vida L. Thomas

Presentation Material

• Goodman, Christine Chambers, Shadowing the Bar: Attorneys’ Own Implicit Bias (2018). Berkeley La Raza Law Journal, Vol. 28, 2018, Pepperdine University Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2018/10
  Prof. Christine Chambers Goodman
• Tackling Implicit Bias Around Identity and Intersectionality (PowerPoint slides)
  Prof. Christine Chambers Goodman, Vida L. Thomas
• Carbado, Devon W. and Harris, Cheryl I., Intersectionality at 30: Mapping the Margins of Anti-Essentialism, Intersectionality, and Dominance Theory (December 10, 2019). 132 Harvard Law Review 2193 (2019)
  Prof. Christine Chambers Goodman
• Vida Thomas, Microaggression Versus Dog Whistle: How to Identify and Address Hurtful Speech at Work, Comstock’s Magazine, November 10, 2021
  Vida L. Thomas
• Full List of Resources
  Prof. Christine Chambers Goodman, Vida L. Thomas